SPINOZA, Benedict.

Tractatus Theologico-Politicus Continens Dissertationes aliquot,

Hamburgi [Amsterdam]: Henricum Künrath [Jan Rieuwertsz], 1670. FIRST EDITION, FIFTH ISSUE TP + 4 leaves = Præfatio + 1 leaf = Index Capitum + 1-233, small Quarto. First Edition, Fifth Issue.(Kingma-Offenberg 7)The Tractatus Theologico-Politicus has one of the most complicated and muddied publication histories of any major philosophical work. One recent listing by a respected English book dealer specializing in philosophy noted that "the bibliographical complexity has not been resolved to everyone's satisfaction". Even Kingma-Offenberg, the most recent bibliographers of Spinoza, point out that, in spite of all the research, the problem of the sequence of the editions and/or issues has not yet been definitely solved (pp. 6-8). "As called for by Kingma-Offenberg 7, this copy misnumbers page 192 as 92 and contains no "Errata Typographica" on p. [234].Despite the title page date of 1670, Kingma-Offenberg speculates that this copy was actually printed sometime a fter 1677.The Tractatus lists a false publisher and place of printing. This need for secrecy and subterfuge was driven by the intense religious and political climate in Holland during Spinoza's lifetime, by the charges of atheism leveled against him, by his expulsion from the Jewish temple and by his intensely felt desire to avoid being drawn into any public controversy"His fame spread and when he left Leiden for the Hague in 1663 he was already finding it difficult to prevent the surreptitious printing of his first great work, the Tractatus Theologico-Politicus. It constituted an extension to political thought of his ethical views. Man is moved to the knowledge and love of God; the love of God involves the love of our fellow men. Man, in order to obtain security, surrenders part of his right of independent action to the State. But the State exists to give liberty, not to enslave; justice, wisdom and tolerance are essential to the sovereign power. Spinoza's thought, a fusion of Cartesian rationalism and the Hebraic tradition in which he grew up, is a solitary but crystal-clear exposition of the theory of natural right. He defends with eloquence the liberty of thought and speech in speculative matters, and the Tractatus contains the first clear statement of the independence of each other of philosophy and religion, in that speculation and precepts of conduct cannot collide." (PMM #153)"The Theological-Political Treatise is one of the most eloquent arguments for a secular, democratic state in the history of political thought. Spinoza felt deeply about the issues he addressed, and - in contrast to the generally dispassionate Ethics - his sentiments in the Treatise are strong and unmistakable." (Nadler, p. 285) Recently rebound in ¾ leather using contemporary boards with marbled papers. Five raised bands on the spine. Internally, the text is clean and unmarked. Overall, a pretty copy of a rare and important work. PHOTOS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.

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